The legal documents provided to the media made no direct allegation of wrongdoing against any team, but the dispute is widely seen as a reaction to the close relationship between Ferrari and the US-based Haas team which will enter F1 in the 2016 season.

Wind-tunnel usage is restricted to current competitors under F1 rules, but Ferrari has been giving Haas access to its facility for testing, leading to concerns that both teams have benefited from the data produced.

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said the team had no concerns about Mercedes' actions or potential outcomes.

Arrivabene said to Sky Sports: "They were asking a question and everybody has the right to talk about that and to give information to the stewards.

"Concerning Haas, we were and we are transparent. We gave all our information to the FIA in the past, as we do in the present."

A statement from stewards said they would "endeavor to hand down their decision on the specific matters prior to the start of the race on Sunday."